The major East London junction which connects the A12, A217 and Main Road in Romford has been plagued with issues since it was first shut
09:46, 08 Nov 2025Updated 09:47, 08 Nov 2025
Gallows Corner has been shut since June(Image: EssexLive)
Gallows Corner in Romford will be out of action until spring next year. It was first shut on June 23 this year but is now likely not to be completed until Spring 2026.
The major East London junction which connects the A12, A217 and Main Road in Romford has been plagued with issues since it was first shut on June 23 this summer. Bosses say engineers came across severe problems which have made the project more complex than expected. This has involved replacing an ageing water main which runs underneath the flyover.
Havering Council Leader Ray Morgan said although it’s good to have some certainty on its reopening, he is ‘disappointed’ that it won’t be finished by Christmas. He said: “Following extensive pressure which included meetings with the transport commissioner and officers we now have some clarity on the revised timeline for the completion of the Gallows Corner flyover project. After months of uncertainty, it is encouraging to finally have a clearer sense of when this vital junction will reopen to our community.
“However, I must express my deep disappointment that the delays mean Gallows Corner will not be reopened in time for Christmas. This news will come as a blow to residents and businesses who have already endured significant disruption for far too long and have told us of their anger at the delays. The closure has affected daily life, local businesses, schools, emergency services, and public transport, and has delayed the delivery of the Council’s wider highways programmes. The pain and frustration felt across Havering is very real and cannot be understated.”
Engineers found pockets of shale underground which meant the original construction method of horizontal directional drilling couldn’t be used.
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Havering Council Leader Ray Morgan continued: “While we recognise the complexities of this major infrastructure project—including the unforeseen engineering challenges with the water main diversion by Essex & Suffolk Water—we remain extremely concerned about the impact these delays continue to have on our borough.
“In addition, we will continue pushing TfL for further clarity on a firm end date, and for regular, transparent updates as the project progresses.
“We all know that Gallows Corner is a critical artery for Havering and East London. Its renewal is essential for the safety and reliability of our road network, and for the prosperity of our community.”
TfL has previously apologised to Havering residents over the disruption caused by works in Gallows Corner. Scott Haxton, the director of capital delivery, said: “The renewal of the ageing Gallows Corner flyover is essential to ensuring safety and reliability of the road network in Havering and working together with Essex & Suffolk Water to replace an ageing water main at the same time as work on the flyover will help to avoid future disruption.
“We recognise the impact that the delay to the project is having on people in the area and are urgently working with our partners to confirm a new completion date. We will be sharing further details about this with the local community as soon as possible.”
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